Sports Page 7
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sports 7 The Beacon Monday, January 31, 2011 Sailfish set high goals, led by Carter By Michele Kappas Contributing Writer “You can either make excuses or make it happen but you can’t do both.” The Palm Beach Atlantic University baseball team recited this saying, looking forward to the season opener after losing three starting pitchers to arm surgery. It would have been very easy for Coach Gary Carter and the players to start making excuses for themselves. Instead, the players decided to overcome adversity and focus on the task in front of them. “This is our season. We want to win a national championship,” said Logan Thomas, a junior pitcher for the Sailfish. The baseball team opens at Roger Dean Stadium tomorrow at 6 p.m. against Lynn University. Roger Dean Stadium is roughly 30 minutes away in Jupiter off Main Street. After finishing 17-24 during his first season last spring, Coach Carter (known as Skip among the players) made some major adjustments entering his second season. Along with the nine seniors that were lost, Carter cut 13 additional players from the team, including one who was ineligible. “The main reason was to improve our team…we wanted to improve at each level,” Carter said. After losing a total of 22 players, Carter brought in 12 transfers along with 13 freshmen. In the fall season, the baseball team dedicated time in learning how to play with one another on the field, building unity. “The chemistry is definitely better this year than it was last year,” Thomas said. Chemistry is not easily built without a strong coach behind you. “Skip is the one of the most upbeat coaches I’ve ever been around,” said Nick Natale, a junior outfielder who transferred from St. Petersburg College. “He makes the game enjoyable. We really feed off his attitude.” “It’s not every day you get to play for a baseball hall-of-famer,” added Matt Civetti, a junior outfielder who transferred from Montgomery College. Carter spent his first 11 seasons as a catcher for the Montreal Expos and entered into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003. Carter seems to be enjoying his second season here, especially because of what the location has to offer. “It’s nice that I’m at home...seeing my daughter, grandkids, working with my son-in-law, Kyle Bloomers…this is what I do, what I love,” Carter said. Carter’s daughter, Kimmy Bloomers, is the head women’s softball coach for PBA and is married to Kyle Bloomers, who is the compliance and marketing coordinator for PBA. The lady sailfish kick off their season at 6 p.m. Wednesday against Northwood University. Despite the disappointment in losing three strong pitchers, Carter seems confident with the players he has healthy. “There’s kids that Coach Ryan Holmes found under the radar that are really gonna help this year…I think we’re gonna win more games than last year,” Carter said. Holmes is one of the three baseball assistant coaches. Johnnie Kirkland, Peter Graffeo and Bobby Dixon, the pitchers lost to arm surgery, will be out for the entire season. Several pitchers will rotate starting in the first few games, including Logan Thomas, T. J. Harbuck and Jonathon Kies. “It puts more pressure on the pitching staff, but I think with the guys we have, we’ll be able to step up and fill those innings,” Thomas said. Although things are looking up for the 2011 season, there are still roadblocks in the way. Currently, the Sailfish practice at their home field, Manzo Park, along with Dyer Park. Since their home field is shared with Lake Worth High, they can only practice for two and one-half hours a day. “The field is terrible,” Holmes said. Carter is hoping to have the university’s new athletic complex off Parker Avenue up and running for his team by next spring. “I’ve been waiting for this since I came in,” Thomas said. “I was promised I would be able to play on it in my four years here.” Carter and his coaching staff believe this complex will be an asset to all sports due to its endless opportunities for tournaments and fund-raising. “It really could be a money maker,” Carter said. With the recent additions to the roster and the complex underway, the coaching staff feels the only thing needed is time. “We need time to build this thing from the bottom,” Holmes said. Lynn University was the reigning champion two years ago, but the Sailfish were able to defeat Lynn four out of five times last year. The biggest competition for PBA will be from University of Tampa and Florida Southern College. As Carter tells his team daily at practice, “this is our championship season,” the baseball team gets fired up, ready to bring home a win right off the bat, with a successful spring to follow. Sailfish basketball draws large crowd Junior Logan Thomas fires a pitch during practice. CASH LAMBERT / ASSIST. NEWS EDITOR Sailfish head coach Gary Carter watches his team practice. CASH LAMBERT / ASSIST. NEWS EDITOR By Tai Cornell Contributing Writer On Wednesday, Jan. 19, the men’s Palm Beach Atlantic University Sail- fish played a fiery game against Barry University’s Buccaneers. PBA topped the Buccaneers 66-45, making the men’s record 10-8. All it took to pack out PBA’s stands was two words: “free iPad.” What col- lege kid would decline the chance to win free technology? At the beginning of the night, PBA took an early lead thanks to the team’s quick feet and well-played defense. The team’s good communication skills contributed to the win. Senior Jonathan Lawrence, a key player for the PBA Sailfish, charged up and down the court for 32 minutes to- tal. With such intensity, it was hard to remain seated while the ball was in his grasp. With three offensive rebounds and four defensive, it is easy to say that Lawrence plays the court with exper- tise. Another highlighted player is Ian Sitz, who is very strong when it comes to defense. His height and build are perfect for defeating the offense’s hopes of taking the ball to the hoop. Sitz col- lected seven defensive rebounds for the Sailfish and had a total of 30 min- utes on the court. During time outs and at halftime, the announcer gifted PBA shirts and Chick-fil-A certificates to a handful of lucky Sailfish fans. As the second half began, the Sailfish had a solid lead of 37 points. Lawrence ended the game with 27 points to lead the Sailfish. The crowd consisted of 445 Sailfish fans who attended this eventful game to support Sailfish basketball, spend time with friends and take a chance to win an awesome prize. Congratulations to the Sailfish men’s basketball team and to Katie Kirk, the proud owner of a brand new Apple iPad. Also on Wednesday night, the PBA women came out ahead, edging Barry 49-47. With just under six seconds to play, Lynsey Poole sank a jumper to seal the game. Ashley Dolberry led the Sailfish with 11 points and three steals. On the following Saturday, the wom- en Sailfish were faced with yet another challenge at Saint Leo University. The Sailfish endured a long and strenuous battle that advanced into overtime with five extra minutes. The Sailfish were defeated 59-65, but played a great game. Hayley Fields paced PBA with 14 points. Dolberry had eight points, 12 rebounds and five assists. On Jan. 26, the Sailfish women played a close game, but ended up los- ing to Eckerd College with a score of 47-59. The Sailfish men and women were to play at Florida Southern on Saturday night. For results, visit PBASailfish. com. Junior Elizabeth Fugate stretches for the basket against Barry University. CASH LAMBERT / ASSIST. NEWS EDITOR
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Sailfish set high goals, led by carter; sailfish basketbal draws large crowd
Transcript of Sports Page 7
sports 7 The Beacon Monday, January 31, 2011
Sailfish set high goals, led by CarterBy Michele Kappas Contributing Writer
“You can either make excuses or make it happen but you can’t do both.” The Palm Beach Atlantic University baseball team recited this saying, looking forward to the season opener after losing three starting pitchers to arm surgery.
It would have been very easy for Coach Gary Carter and the players to start making excuses for themselves. Instead, the players decided to overcome adversity and focus on the task in front of them. “This is our season. We want to win a national championship,” said Logan Thomas, a junior pitcher for the Sailfish.
The baseball team opens at Roger
Dean Stadium tomorrow at 6 p.m. against Lynn University. Roger Dean Stadium is roughly 30 minutes away in Jupiter off Main Street.
After finishing 17-24 during his first season last spring, Coach Carter (known as Skip among the players) made some major adjustments entering his second season.
Along with the nine seniors that were lost, Carter cut 13 additional players from the team, including one who was ineligible.
“The main reason was to improve our team…we wanted to improve at each level,” Carter said.
After losing a total of 22 players, Carter brought in 12 transfers along with 13 freshmen.
In the fall season, the baseball team
dedicated time in learning how to play with one another on the field, building unity.
“The chemistry is definitely better this year than it was last year,” Thomas said.
Chemistry is not easily built without a strong coach behind you.
“Skip is the one of the most upbeat coaches I’ve ever been around,” said Nick Natale, a junior outfielder who transferred from St. Petersburg College. “He makes the game enjoyable. We really feed off his attitude.”
“It’s not every day you get to play for a baseball hall-of-famer,” added Matt Civetti, a junior outfielder who transferred from Montgomery College.
Carter spent his first 11 seasons as a catcher for the Montreal Expos and entered into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003.
Carter seems to be enjoying his second season here, especially because of what the location has to offer.
“It’s nice that I’m at home...seeing my daughter, grandkids, working with my son-in-law, Kyle Bloomers…this is what I do, what I love,” Carter said.
Carter’s daughter, Kimmy Bloomers, is the head women’s softball coach for PBA and is married to Kyle Bloomers, who is the compliance and marketing coordinator for PBA. The lady sailfish kick off their season at 6 p.m. Wednesday against Northwood University.
Despite the disappointment in losing three strong pitchers, Carter seems confident with the players he has healthy.
“There’s kids that Coach Ryan Holmes found under the radar that are really gonna help this year…I think we’re gonna win more games than last year,” Carter said.
Holmes is one of the three baseball assistant coaches.
Johnnie Kirkland, Peter Graffeo and Bobby Dixon, the pitchers lost to arm surgery, will be out for the entire season. Several pitchers will rotate starting in the first few games, including Logan Thomas, T. J. Harbuck and Jonathon Kies.
“It puts more pressure on the pitching staff, but I think with the guys we have, we’ll be able to step up and fill those innings,” Thomas said.
Although things are looking up for the 2011 season, there are still
roadblocks in the way. Currently, the Sailfish practice at
their home field, Manzo Park, along with Dyer Park. Since their home field is shared with Lake Worth High, they can only practice for two and one-half hours a day.
“The field is terrible,” Holmes said. Carter is hoping to have the
university’s new athletic complex off Parker Avenue up and running for his team by next spring.
“I’ve been waiting for this since I came in,” Thomas said. “I was promised I would be able to play on it in my four years here.”
Carter and his coaching staff believe this complex will be an asset to all sports due to its endless opportunities for tournaments and fund-raising.
“It really could be a money maker,” Carter said.
With the recent additions to the roster and the complex underway, the coaching staff feels the only thing needed is time.
“We need time to build this thing from the bottom,” Holmes said.
Lynn University was the reigning champion two years ago, but the Sailfish were able to defeat Lynn four out of five times last year.
The biggest competition for PBA will be from University of Tampa and Florida Southern College.
As Carter tells his team daily at practice, “this is our championship season,” the baseball team gets fired up, ready to bring home a win right off the bat, with a successful spring to follow.
Sailfish basketball draws large crowd Junior Logan Thomas fires a pitch during practice. CASH LAMBERT / ASSIST. NEWS EDITOR
Sailfish head coach Gary Carter watches his team practice. CASH LAMBERT / ASSIST. NEWS EDITOR
By Tai CornellContributing Writer
On Wednesday, Jan. 19, the men’s Palm Beach Atlantic University Sail-fish played a fiery game against Barry University’s Buccaneers.
PBA topped the Buccaneers 66-45, making the men’s record 10-8.
All it took to pack out PBA’s stands was two words: “free iPad.” What col-lege kid would decline the chance to win free technology?
At the beginning of the night, PBA took an early lead thanks to the team’s quick feet and well-played defense. The team’s good communication skills contributed to the win.
Senior Jonathan Lawrence, a key player for the PBA Sailfish, charged up and down the court for 32 minutes to-tal.
With such intensity, it was hard to remain seated while the ball was in his grasp.
With three offensive rebounds and four defensive, it is easy to say that
Lawrence plays the court with exper-tise.
Another highlighted player is Ian Sitz, who is very strong when it comes to defense. His height and build are perfect for defeating the offense’s hopes of taking the ball to the hoop. Sitz col-lected seven defensive rebounds for the Sailfish and had a total of 30 min-utes on the court.
During time outs and at halftime, the announcer gifted PBA shirts and Chick-fil-A certificates to a handful of lucky Sailfish fans.
As the second half began, the Sailfish had a solid lead of 37 points.
Lawrence ended the game with 27 points to lead the Sailfish.
The crowd consisted of 445 Sailfish fans who attended this eventful game to support Sailfish basketball, spend time with friends and take a chance to win an awesome prize.
Congratulations to the Sailfish men’s basketball team and to Katie Kirk, the proud owner of a brand new Apple iPad.
Also on Wednesday night, the PBA women came out ahead, edging Barry 49-47. With just under six seconds to play, Lynsey Poole sank a jumper to seal the game. Ashley Dolberry led the Sailfish with 11 points and three steals.
On the following Saturday, the wom-en Sailfish were faced with yet another challenge at Saint Leo University.
The Sailfish endured a long and strenuous battle that advanced into overtime with five extra minutes. The Sailfish were defeated 59-65, but played a great game. Hayley Fields paced PBA with 14 points. Dolberry had eight points, 12 rebounds and five assists.
On Jan. 26, the Sailfish women played a close game, but ended up los-ing to Eckerd College with a score of 47-59.
The Sailfish men and women were to play at Florida Southern on Saturday night. For results, visit PBASailfish.com.
Junior Elizabeth Fugate stretches for the basket against Barry University. CASH LAMBERT / ASSIST. NEWS EDITOR
